Sometimes when we are talking we get stuck in our heads instead of being present in the conversation. We analyze if we should provide additional or background information. We wonder if maybe a different example or word choice would be better. We worry about what our audience thinks of us.

Early in my career I worked as a speech-language pathologist in a hospital brain injury unit, helping patients and their families cope with the sudden and traumatic loss of their ability to communicate. Witnessing their pain, I imagined what my life would be like if I, or a family member, lost the power to speak. I vowed then and there to never take my voice for granted.

I recently had a conversation with a friend who had arranged to take three non-paid days off from work to go on vacation with her family. While on her vacation, she ended up working remotely for several hours each day. She said to me that she thought she should go back and ask for one of those three non-paid days to be a paid day, but that she probably wouldn’t because it was just easier not to say anything. I say that’s a shame.

Many entrepreneurs and small business owners share a mobile phone number for personal and business calls. This often makes good sense financially, and prevents one from having to carry around two phones. As a result, however, some business owners frequently answer their phone in a very casual manner, like they would respond if a good buddy called. I’ve heard “yeah”, “hey”, “what’s up”, and “hello” spoken with a very laid-back tone, which gives me the impression that they don’t value me or my time. Being greeted so casually throws me off a bit, as I expect a more formal greeting when I call a business. Sometimes I wonder if I called the correct number, and I am often tempted to hang up. At minimum I find myself having to ask, “Is this Business XYZ?”

Let’s face it. How many pitches given by other people do you actually remember after hearing them for the first time? Do you even remember your pitch from one event to the next?

I find it hard to pay attention to the other people giving pitches in the room when my nerves are building in anticipation of giving mine. It therefore takes a pitch with personality to capture my attention and get me out of my head as I await my turn. Can you relate?

You sit in the room at this networking event that you hope will bring you more business. One by one people take turns introducing themselves and giving their elevator pitches. You can hardly pay attention to what they say, because as it gets closer to your turn, you start to sweat, butterflies get all in a flurry in your gut, your mouth gets dry, and all you can think about is not screwing up or coming across as a fool. Right before you open your mouth to introduce yourself you stand up and silently pray that your voice doesn’t shake and you don’t stumble through your words. “Please, God, help me get through this.”

The King’s Speech: How One Man Saved the British Monarchy BookI count “The King’s Speech” as one of my all-time favorite movies. In fact I could argue it is my favorite movie of all time (so far, at least). The story relates how speech therapist pioneer Lionel Logue helped King George VI overcome his lifelong stammer. Mark Logue (Lionel’s grandson) and Peter Conradi wrote the companion book, The King’s Speech: How One Man Saved the British Monarchy that goes further into detail of Lionel and the king’s relationship than does the movie.

For a number of years now, maybe as many as 18, I have been the cantor for the “Song of Moses” at the Easter Vigil service at my church.

Last night I sang it again. The song expresses Moses’ gratitude and awe regarding his God who delivered his people from oppression.

Of course, being Helen Moses, I love singing this song. It is a special honor and it is very personal. Each year I try to bring new life to it. This year I felt a new connection when I sang it. As I am working to get to the root of what holds me back in my life, I can relate to Moses and his people.

I’m beginning to get a little more comfortable being vulnerable about exposing my clutter problem. Once I got over the fear of sharing my It’s Not Easy Being Clean post on Facebook and LinkedIn, I found immediate support from the people with whom I shared my story. I waited for someone to say something negative about my post, like “Why would you say that in public? You are admitting you are weak.”

But no one did.

In fact, the more I considered that possibility, the stronger I felt about my decision to share my story. Admitting that I am weak is the truth. As it says in the song “Jesus Loves Me,” “they (all the children of the world) are weak, but He is strong!”

That knowledge empowers me, and the more I tell my story of my weakness and how I am overcoming it through the help of others, the stronger my voice becomes.